Women's Health Physiotherapy

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, most commonly stress incontinence (leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise) or urge incontinence (a sudden, hard-to-defer need to pass urine). Newstead women's health physiotherapy treats incontinence with assessed pelvic floor muscle training, bladder retraining, manual therapy and lifestyle education tailored to the cause of your leakage.

Urinary retention occurs when the bladder cannot empty properly, often producing urinary frequency, urgency, incomplete emptying or overflow leakage. Treatment at our Brisbane clinic combines pelvic floor down-training, bladder retraining, toileting position advice and breathing strategies to help the bladder fully relax and empty.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause urinary incontinence or urgency, pelvic pain, heaviness, painful intercourse and bowel symptoms. Pelvic organ prolapse (where the bladder, uterus or bowel descends into the vaginal wall) often produces a dragging or bulging sensation. Our Newstead women's health physiotherapist assesses pelvic floor function and builds a plan around pelvic floor retraining, lifestyle and load management, support garments and pessary care where appropriate.

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) presents as pain through the pubic bone, hips, groin, buttocks or thighs and often worsens as pregnancy progresses. Following the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines, we manage PGP with hands-on therapy, individualised stability and strength exercises, kinesiology taping and advice on support belts so you can keep moving comfortably.

Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain affects up to two thirds of pregnant women, driven by hormonal changes, postural load and increased mobility through the pelvic joints. Our Newstead physiotherapists retrain the deep stabilising muscles, restore joint mechanics and prescribe targeted exercise so the surrounding muscles can support your changing body.

Returning to exercise after birth is highly individual and depends on your delivery, pelvic floor recovery and goals. We assess your pelvic floor, abdominal wall and overall conditioning and write a staged return-to-exercise program (from early breath, core and pelvic floor work through to running, lifting and sport) so you can rebuild safely.

Diastasis of the rectus abdominis (DRAM) is a stretching and thinning of the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles and affects up to 70% of pregnant women. Brisbane women's health physiotherapy treats DRAM with assessment, graded core and pelvic floor exercises, breath and load strategies, and compression garment advice to support healing and restore function.

Breastfeeding problems (mastitis, blocked ducts, engorgement and feeding-related pain) can be supported by physiotherapy. We use therapeutic ultrasound, lymphatic and soft-tissue techniques, taping for pain relief, and positioning and attachment advice to ease symptoms and protect your milk supply.

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is irritation of the tendons at the base of the thumb, often flaring with the repeated lifting and feeding postures of new motherhood. Our Newstead physiotherapists treat it with activity modification, manual therapy, graded loading exercises and custom thumb splinting or bracing.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can develop during pregnancy as fluid retention compresses the median nerve at the wrist, producing numbness, tingling and weakness through the hand. Treatment includes night splinting, nerve gliding exercises, soft-tissue work and posture and ergonomic advice for feeding and daily tasks.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is compression of the tibial nerve at the inside of the ankle, causing burning, tingling or numbness through the foot. We assess the underlying cause (biomechanics, swelling or footwear) and treat with stretching, strengthening, soft-tissue release and supportive devices.

Meralgia paraesthetica is irritation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, producing burning, tingling or numbness across the outer thigh, common in pregnancy as the growing uterus alters posture and load. Management at our Brisbane clinic includes manual therapy, nerve mobilisation, targeted exercise and lifestyle adjustments to offload the nerve.

Constipation (infrequent or difficult bowel motions) is common in pregnancy, postpartum and through menopause. Treatment combines abdominal massage, pelvic floor coordination training, defecation dynamics (including toileting position and breath), and dietary and fluid education to restore comfortable, regular bowel function.

Faecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool, or wind, and is often underreported despite being highly treatable. Newstead women's health physiotherapy uses pelvic floor and anal sphincter retraining, biofeedback strategies, bowel retraining and dietary modification to restore control.

Sexual dysfunction can involve painful intercourse, reduced sensation, vaginismus or difficulty reaching orgasm, with both physical and psychological contributors. Our physiotherapist provides assessment, pelvic floor down-training or strengthening, manual therapy, dilator therapy where appropriate, and clear education to reduce pain and restore function.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) describes the cluster of urinary, vaginal and sexual symptoms (dryness, irritation, painful intercourse, urgency and recurrent UTIs) driven by falling oestrogen. We treat GSM with pelvic floor training, lubricant and moisturiser guidance, lifestyle strategies and coordinated care with your GP or specialist.

Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for breast and pelvic cancers can leave lasting effects on movement, strength, continence, sexual function and lymphatic drainage. Our Brisbane women's health physiotherapist supports survivorship with scar and soft-tissue management, graded exercise, pelvic floor rehabilitation, lymphoedema care and electrical stimulation as indicated.

Lymphoedema is an abnormal build-up of lymph fluid that causes swelling, heaviness and skin changes, most commonly in the arms or legs following cancer treatment. We provide Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), compression garment fitting and education, exercise prescription and skin care advice to manage swelling long-term.

Lipoedema is a chronic condition causing symmetrical, painful fatty tissue build-up (usually in the legs and arms) that does not respond to diet or exercise alone. Treatment at our Newstead clinic combines manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, tailored exercise and education to reduce pain, improve mobility and slow progression.